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eceiver.

"His scooter was there. He's gone on the bus and it arrived a while ago. By now he's at the hospital," I told her.

"Thank you, dear," she said. "I'm on my way out. I'll bring him home," she said.

"I'll be at the cafe," I told her.

My aunt was standing nearby, a quizzical and troubled look on her face. For a moment I stood there silently after I hung up, and then I turned to her.

"I have to talk to you," I said.

She nodded and led me back to the pantry so we could have some privacy.

There I told her everything. She listened without interrupting me.

Then I burst into tears.

"I am a pariah," I said. "I do attract only dark and evil things "

"Alice."

"No. I am my mother's daughter. Grandpa was right. It doesn't matter where I go or what I do."

"That is utterly ridiculous, Alice," Aunt Zipporah told me. She embraced me. "Stop it. You can't take on everyone else's problems, and you can't blame yourself for any of it. There was obviously a whole history here before you arrived. You just happened to walk into it. That's all."

I shook my head. Nothing she could say would change my mind.

"Maybe you should go home," she said. "You're not emotionally strong enough to work today."

"No, please," I said. "I have to keep busy or I'll go mad. And besides, I told Duncan's mother to call me here later."

"Okay, Alice. I'm sorry for all the trouble you've had so quickly here."

"Me, too."

"Should I call your grandparents?"

"No," I said. "Grandma will cancel their vacation and come running up here to get me to go home."

She nodded. "Probably would. We'll be fine. Give Missy some relief," she said and walked me out with her arm around my shoulders.

Tyler looked at us, concerned, but Aunt Zipporah gave him a look that comforted him and he continued working. The lunch crowd was building. I went for my apron and dove into the work, practically accosting the customers to please them.

Time flew by without my realizing it, which was a good thing. Hours later, Mrs. Mallen tapped me on the shoulder to tell me there was a phone call for me.

I looked at Aunt Zipporah, She was occupied with some short orders and hadn't heard. I picked up the receiver, my hand trembling.

"Yes, this is Alice," I said.

In a dry, dark voice, Duncan's mother said, "He died before Duncan got here."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I said. "How is Duncan?"

"He wasn't here when I arrived. The nurse on duty told me he was very, very upset and left quickly. I went to the bus station to see if I could catch him before the returning bus drove away, but he wasn't there and never appeared before the next bus left. He might be wandering about the city or anywhere," she said, her voice cracking now. "I have no choice but to start for home and hope he comes home soon."

"I'm sure he will," I said even though I had no confidence in anything I thought anymore.

"If he calls you, please, please let me know." "I will," I said.